Celebrity Big Brother fans have reacted with astonishment to the ‘leaked’ lineup for the 2025 series – with one name in particular leaving them in a state of shock.
In just a few days’ time, the ITV reality TV series is returning with a new batch of famous competitors set to enter the infamous House.
Last year, Ibiza Weekender star David Potts was crowned the winner, with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin finishing in second place, and Coronation Street actor Colson Smith taking third.
This year, it’s been reported that celebrities including internet sensation JoJo Siwa, Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Danny Beard will be competing, alongside EastEnders star Patsy Palmer and TV presenter Trisha Goddard.
Following the news of the reported leak, which came from The Sun, Big Brother viewers reacted in their droves, with one called Pocket-Cups remarking on Reddit that it was a ‘pretty solid lineup’.
‘I love when they have an actual Hollywood star and they are just confused AF by the whole thing,’ they said, in reference to Iron Man 2 actor Mickey, 72.
However, the inclusion of performer JoJo in the cast sparked the most amount of astonishment… and in some cases, confusion.
The 21-year-old first soared to fame when she appeared in the reality TV series Dance Moms, before going on to release music with Nickelodeon.
She later went on to appear on The Masked Singer in the US in 2020 and on Dancing with the Stars the following year.
‘I can’t believe we’re gonna see JoJo Siwa in the same room as Bianca from EastEnders and David Platt,’ said Adventurous_Shop8373.
‘No way JoJo Siwa is going in lmaooooo this has legit shocked me,’ Jaded_You_9120 quipped, while Strawberry_delight22 wrote: ‘JoJo Siwa going in is crazy to me she would have never crossed my mind and I can’t imagine why she would be doing this, but I’m looking forward to it.’
Could Celebrity Big Brother help JoJo Siwa break the UK?
Of all the reality shows on TV, Celebrity Big Brother can be extremely unpredictable.
So, it’s often uncertain how polarising celebrities are going to be received when they go on the programme, particularly if they’re not from the UK.
American star JoJo is by no means an unknown name on our side of the pond, even if the chart performance from her 2024 single Karma demonstrates that the majority of her demographic is US based, with the single peaking at 22 in the US and at 76 in the UK.
She has also performed in the UK in the past, heading to Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Cardiff and Dublin for her D.R.E.A.M. The Tour in 2019, and taking to the stage at Mighty Hoopla last year.
The first – and only – American to ever win Big Brother UK was actor Gary Busey, when he was crowned the champion 11 years ago in 2014… so could JoJo follow in his footsteps by winning over the public?
Her attempt in recent years of veering away from her child star days has resulted in divided reactions, with some people online saying that they find her brightly-bedazzled outfits and dance moves ‘cringe’.
On top of that, last year she sparked backlash for claiming that she invented the ‘gay pop’ genre.
At the time, she was asked why she thinks people have such strong opinions over her – to which she replied: ‘Because it’s fun to.’
A few days ago, JoJo shared a post in honour of International Transgender Day of Visibility, expressing her ‘love and appreciation for all transgender humans around the world’, to which one fan called Ria responded: ‘It’s sad how you get so much hate when all you’re trying to do is spread positivity for those without a voice. Keep doing what you’re doing.’
JoJo definitely has the potential to ruffle feathers in the House with the other celebrities, as well as among members of the voting public. But, if she comes across as endearing – especially as the youngest housemate – she could still find herself a new fanbase in the UK in the process. Big Brother fans love nothing more than drama, and we have a feeling she’s not going to hold back from serving it on a platter.
Terrible-Stick-2179 admitted that they thought JoJo doing Celebrity Big Brother ‘was an April Fool’s joke’, while Bittersweet1990 speculated that no one else in the cast is going to ‘come close to matching her vibe’.
‘Worth it for JoJo alone, it’ll be entertaining,’ Jamiedix0n added.
Discussing the upcoming series on the whole, Colanderofperil said that the rumoured cast ‘is actually a goated lineup’.
‘This is some great casting. However I so wish they’d have kept Tiffany Pollard even if they couldn’t do a whole All Stars series. I’d give anything to see her, JoJo Siwa, Patsy Palmer and Mickey Rourke interact,’ Lonelylamb11814 shared.
Another fan called Radicalgg16 also predicted that JoJo could end ‘doing her Karma dance in the house’, the lead single from her EP Guilty Pleasure, which came out last year.
Celebrity Big Brother returns on Monday April 7 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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